After another long day of playing catch up at the police station, Emma stood and pulled her jacket off the back of her chair. She threw the familiar red leather onto her shoulders and swiped her keys off the desk. She approached the wall where the light switch was. Casting one more glance over her office, she shut the lights off. She had spent most of the day doing paperwork while being bored out of her mind. But the only saving grace was that she had promised Henry once she got home that night, that they would put up the Christmas tree together. And as foolish as the idea may have been at the time, Emma had extended an invite to Hook to help come and share in the Christmas tradition. He had been such a key figure in helping to bring Henry home from Neverland that Emma felt the need to include him in something that was happy and normal. His eyes had lit up at her invitation. Her mind drifted back to that day…
It had been growing quite cold in Storybrooke. Hell, it was December in Maine so there really was no surprise but after coming home from Neverland which was constantly hot and humid, the shock to all of their systems had caused most of them to get sick with the exception of Hook. Emma had been helping Charming and Snow carry boxes of stuff to their new apartment which was less than a block away from the apartment that was now hers and Henry's. Once the last box had been dropped off in the living room, everyone was enjoying a steaming cup of hot chocolate. They were all remarking about how cold it was.
"I wonder how Hook is holding up." Charming commented after taking a healthy sip. Emma who was also drinking almost choked. She looked over the rim of her cup. "Since when are you so concerned about a pirate's well being?" She jested with a small smile. Emma was well aware that the two had formed quite the friendship on the hellish island.
Charming glanced at her with a smirk of his own. "Since he helped save my Grandson from that God forsaken island. I'm not sure we could have done it without him Emma. And the fact remains that his ship is over 300 years old. I doubt it is insulated enough to be able to withstand the cold here in Storybrooke."
Emma kept her eyes trained on him for a moment before looking over at her Mother. Snow was nodding, while staying quiet but the look in her eyes spoke of knowing what Charming was doing. He was pushing Emma to think about Hook. And to be honest, Snow had never been more proud of her husband. He may not have liked Hook in the beginning but he knew now what a good man he was. And how good he could be for Emma. Snow rather liked the Pirate and was of the belief that the two would make an excellent couple, always challenging the other.
It would also be a lie to say that Emma hadn't thought of Hook in the last week or two since their return. She had missed his presence. She missed the terms of endearment. She missed the jokes. She also missed the innuendos because in all reality, it made her feel desired and every woman wanted to feel that. It had been a long time since those kinds of feelings had been stirred in her and Hook did that quite well. So she hated the thought of him being alone and cold on his ship after all he had done for her family. And to be honest, she really just wanted to see him and spend some time with him. But she would NEVER admit that out loud to anyone.
Taking the last gulp of hot chocolate, Emma set her mug down on the counter. She went to Henry's side and dropped a kiss on the crown of his head. "I'll be back shortly kid. Spend some time with your grandparents. What do you think about setting up the tree tomorrow?"
Henry looked up at her, rocking a small chocolate mustache. "Sounds great Mom. It might even be fun if you asked Hook to help us decorate it!" The kid was no slouch in the detective department either. He knew what his grandparents were up to and he was fully on board with their plan.
Emma reached over the counter to grab a napkin. After wiping Henry's mouth affectionately, she nodded once and threw on her heavy winter coat. She was out the door and heading towards the docks mere seconds later.
"Well it would seem that worked!" Snow said triumphantly, going to Charming and wrapping her arms around his waist. He laughed and kissed her gently on the lips. "It certainly does look like it did. What do you think Henry?"
Henry sat there on his chair with a Cheshire cat grin on his face. "Phase one of Operation Christmas Love is a go!"
Emma hurried down the docks and up the ladder onto Hook's ship. It was eerily quiet, she couldn't detect any sound of anyone moving around but she wasn't sure where else he could be. She walked right down to the Captain's quarters and let herself in without even knocking. There sat Hook on his bed, huddled in blankets, trying desperately to keep warm.
A smile lit up his face as soon as his eyes took in the sight of her. "Why hello there Swan. To what do I owe this pleasure lass?" He tried to pull the blanket tighter around him but it was difficult with only one hand. It was clear to Emma that he was shivering due to the way his body was wracking with chills every couple of seconds. She hurried over to him and sat on the edge of the bed. She helped wrapped the blankets around him even tighter. Her hand brushed his and she looked at him in the eyes. A lovely blush crept across her cheeks.
"I came here to extend an invite actually." She said, looking down at her hands. What was it about him that made her feel like a schoolgirl with a crush? She had outgrown that feeling years and years ago. But something about Hook...no, Killian still made her feel like she butterflies in her stomach. She had taken to calling him Killian in her head because in her heart, he was no longer the cold and calculating Hook. He was the caring and thoughtful and fearless and brave Killian. Who came back for her.
"Any invite from you is one I am sure I will want to partake in, so what is it Swan? Are you in need of someone to keep you warm at night during this wretched cold snap?" He sniped, the lines around his eyes crinkling as he grinned. Just like him to still be cheeky and flirty even though his fingers looked like they were frozen.
Sighing heavily as she normally did when he flirted with her, Emma looked up to meet his eyes. She was getting ready to invite him over the next day to help with their Christmas tree, but what came out of her mouth was very different.
"What I came here to ask was, I know it's cold on this ship. And now that Snow and Charming have moved out, the apartment is a lot less crowded. We have a nice warm couch that you could come stay on for a few days until it gets a little warmer. So how about it Hook? Henry and I are going to put up our Christmas tree tomorrow and Henry would love for you to help us."
Emma found herself wanting to regret what she had asked seeing as it was a bigger commitment than a few hours to decorate a tree. But what surprised her was, she didn't regret it at all.
"So, you're inviting me to spend a few evenings in your home? And to help make a tree look pretty?" Hook asked with a charming look of confusion on his face. What a strange tradition to put things on a tree to decorate it inside a house.
The blond savior nodded quickly, not wanting to sound foolish. He hadn't accepted yet and it was starting to make Emma feel like she shouldn't have asked.
"Is it only Henry who wishes to have my assistance with said tree?" Hook pushed further, wanting to test Emma's limits because he knew he could.
Inhaling deeply to calm her racing nerves, Emma leapt to her feet. "No. I would like you there too." She admitted, not looking at him but finding sudden interest in the decorations in his cabin.
Hook watched her avoidance of eye contact. Slowly, he untangled himself from the blankets and stood, coming up behind her. He turned her body so that she was facing him. An errant lock of hair hung loosely by her face. Hook reached up and tucked it behind her ear very gently. "I would like to learn about the Christmas customs in your realm love. Let me get a few of my things together and I shall accompany you back home."
Emma shivered. That of which had nothing to do with the cold. But she managed a small smile as warmth flooded her body. "Of course. Take your time. I know you need to grab toiletries and something to sleep in."
The Pirate had already grabbed a satchel and was throwing things into it. He turned to look at her with that famous smirk and quirked eyebrow of his. "The first part of your statement may be correct but know that I sleep in the same outfit I was born in."
Emma let out a huge huff and grabbed a book off the nearest shelf to chuck at his head. As it flew through the air and hit his head with precision, chuckling could be heard as Emma walked out the door saying she would wait for him on the docks.
Fast forward to today. It was Friday evening and she was now driving the short distance back home. Hook had slept on the couch the night before and had been a perfect gentleman who had managed to break her coffee pot trying to help out and make her some java before work that morning. Normally, she would have been peeved but she found the act endearing because he had hurried to the diner and got her a cup of coffee from there to apologize with. Of course it was now on her tab there because he had yet to acquire money in this realm but he knew he would be able to pawn some of his pirate treasure soon enough.
By the time she came downstairs, dressed for work and was waiting for Henry to come down, Hook had coffee and eggs waiting for her. He had the blankets on the couch folded and all the dishes washed from the night before. The thought occurred to her that she could get used to this but she quickly brushed that away before it settled too deep in her subconscious. They had exchanged pleasantries and had all shared a nice breakfast together before she took Henry and they rushed out the door to work and school respectively.
Emma had worried a little during the day about what sort of trouble Hook was getting himself into in her home but he knew how to call her for help if needed. She had shown him that before she left. The phone didn't ring all day so when she stuck the key in the lock that night, she wasn't prepared for the sight she was met with.
There in the kitchen stood a proud as a peacock looking Hook ( who looked phenomenal in in a pair of dark wash jeans and a black button up shirt which she had no idea where they had came from) with Henry next to him looking a bit guilty. "Hi boys." She called out, coming in and hanging her coat up. She threw her keys down and looked back at them. "What happened?" She asked automatically.
Hook went to open his mouth to explain but Henry shook his head no and shushed him. "Hey Mom! How was your day?" He asked cheerfully, trying to divert the conversation.
Emma came up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "It was good kid. How was school?"
"It was great Mom! I even aced my math test, see!" Henry held up a test to show her. But she knew better. The boys were up to something.
"Hey, great job! Now, what is going on?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
Henry sighed, he knew he couldn't get this past his Mother. "Hook and I tried to make you dinner and we may have almost burned the kitchen down."
"Whaaa?" Emma started before Henry plowed onward.
"But everything is fine. We may have messed up dinner but we managed to get some pizza here. It's all set up and we've got a movie waiting to go. We were just waiting for you to get home so you could join us!"
Emma watched his eyes sparkle. It was hard to be mad at him for trying so hard to be thoughtful and do something nice for her. Not to mention, she hadn't seen that sparkle since before Neverland. "Ok then, what are we waiting for?" She responded with a smile as Henry took off towards the pizza.
Then she looked at Hook. "I haven't seen him this happy since before Neverland. Since before...his Father died." Emma finished lamely. To say things had been tough on Henry lately would be an understatement.
Hook nodded in understanding. "That boy loves you Swan. And when he begged for my assistance in making dinner for you, of course I could not turn him down however we might have had to extinguish a small flame. But everything is fine and that thing called pizza smells delicious. Almost as delicious as you smell right now."
Emma had been too engrossed in watching his lips as he talked to really hear what he said until he told her that she smelled delicious too. Her eyes snapped up to his to find them twinkling with mischief. "What?" She asked, sort of dazed.
Hook laughed, clearly having noticed what Emma was looking at and the sound slammed Emma right in her heart. It was the most beautiful, carefree thing she had ever heard. She smiled in response. "Come on Hook, let's go eat dinner."
She turned to leave the room to follow Henry but she found a warm hand wrapping around her wrist and turning her back towards him. "I have a small favor to ask of you love. And I know I have no right considering all you've done for me lately but do please consider calling me Killian."
Emma found that the foot between them was now closed down to mere inches and she could smell the distinct aroma of leather, sea and rum. It was intoxicating so she closed her eyes and took several deep breaths of it. She opened her green eyes to stare into his fathomless blue ones. "Ok, Killian." She said experimentally, trying it out on her tongue. She found that she liked it but it was breaching a certain level of intimacy that she wasn't sure she was ready to explore yet.
Hook let go of her wrist, flashing a brilliant white smile. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" He jested as he walked around her and went to join Henry. "You better not have eaten my share lad!" He called out jovially and Emma watched the scene unfold as Hook settled down next to Henry with a large slice of cheese pizza. The picture laid out in front of her seemed almost normal and she found herself racing forward to be a part of it.
Two hours and a lot of yelling at the TV later, the threesome had the tree up. Hook had not enjoyed the disney interpretation of himself. He had called it an abomination and a horrendous depiction that was all lies. It had taken him ten minutes to get over the hair and mustache which had caused Henry to nearly be sick with laughing too much. Emma had joined in on the laughs, watching the happiness unfold in the room before her. Once the movie had ended, she suggested they get the tree up because Henry needed to be in bed soon.
They got the tree up rather quickly. Emma and Henry had gotten the lights on it. Then Hook had helped with the decorations. The last touch needed was the angel on top and for some reason, they couldn't find it. Henry laid down on the couch while Emma searched through the boxes. "I can't seem to find it any where. Any idea of where else it could be?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to find Henry fast asleep.
Hook chuckled softly as he looked where she was looking. He stood and walked over to the couch, pulling the blanket off the back. He laid it over Henry gently, tucking him in. Emma watched the touching gesture, feeling her heart melt at the way Hook was behaving towards her son. "I guess we must have tuckered him out tonight, huh Swan?"
"Listen, if you are going to be Killian, then it's only fair that I'm Emma." She offered, looking through the last box. From behind her, she heard. "I guess you are right about that...Emma." She heard him come closer to her but she was afraid if she turned around, he would be too close to her. And right now, after this perfect evening, Emma was afraid she would do something that she might regret tomorrow.
Emma stood up, frustrated that she couldn't finish their task with no angel. She looked all around, once more, noticing another box pushed over near the breezeway. Rushing over to it, she flipped it open. "Aha!" She cried out softly, reaching down into it and plucking the angel from inside the darkness of the box.
Hook came up behind her to see the angel in her hand. It looked remarkably like her. It was a beautiful porcelain angel dressed in a velvet green gown. She had green eyes and long wavy blond hair like Emma. "Why it's lovely Emma, just like the princess holding it." His irish voice lilted softly. Emma's insides continued to melt. How did he make her feel these things after only knowing her a few months?
She turned to walk back to the tree so she could place the angel on top only to bump right into the Pirate behind her. He had a silly grin on his face. She cocked her head to the side. "What?" She asked with a playful grin, knowing something was up.
Silently, Hook touched his lips and then pointed upwards.
Looking above them to the arch of the breezeway, Emma found a rather healthy piece of mistletoe hanging. "What in the hell?" She asked, surprised. Looking down again, she found Hook's eyes trained on hers.
"Your lad was really into telling me all about Christmas traditions when he got home from school as we dragged your Christmas things downstairs. And as it turns out, he might have mentioned this wonderful little plant called mistletoe and the tradition behind it. So I thought to myself, if that's a tradition of this land, then Emma should have it. So we may have ventured out and bought some and hung it before you got home this evening."
"And of course there was no ulterior motive in all that between you two." Emma said, while poking him in the chest.
Grabbing her wrist, he pulled Emma closer to him. Mere inches separated their heated bodies. Hook shook his head with a genuine smile on his lips. "Of course not my lady. I only wish that you have every Christmas experience that you can."
Cocking her head again, her mind started to whirl. Her two boys were in on this plan together were they? Emma was no fool and there is no way she'd give in that easy. "So I guess you are expecting a kiss then?" She said, wagging her eyebrows at him. He nodded enthusiastically which caused her to giggle. She leaned in and closed the gap between them. As soon as his eyes closed, she pecked his cheek and bounded away before he was able to grab her.
"No one said it had to be on the lips." She called out mockingly as she approached the Christmas tree. Looking upward, she tried to find the best way to get the angel on the very tall tree.
Hook who was still dazed that Emma had bested him once again laughed. That was so NOT what he had been hoping for. Heaving a heavy sigh, he walked up next to her. It was clear that her five foot five inch stature was not going to get the angel on top of the tree. So he simply plucked it from her hands and set it on the top. Turning to her with a self assured smile, he simply said. "All finished!"
Emma turned to face him. She wanted to slap that look right off his face. Instead of being mean to him, she took the nice way out. "Thank you." She said.
"Well perhaps gratitude is in order now." Hook teased, taking a step forward. He touched his finger to his lips lightly once more.
"Yeah, that's what the thank you was for." Emma said, entranced by him. The lights of the Christmas tree caused him to glow and he had never looked more handsome. She took a step towards him, unaware of how close they really were.
"Is that all getting the angel on top of the very tall tree is worth to you?" He asked her, shuffling closer.
"Please, you couldn't handle it." Emma said with a small shake of her head, getting even closer to him.
"Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it." Hook retorted, looking deep into her eyes. He could see her defenses crumbling and he knew it wouldn't be long now.
Emma searched his eyes. They were bluer than she'd ever seen them. She wondered why that was and then it struck her. Hook was happy here. Being a part of her life. And it shocked her to her core to realize she hadn't been this happy since they returned. It was having Henry back home AND Hook with her that made her feel at peace. And that maybe it was time to stop running and fighting all that she felt for him. So she reached forward and yanked his head towards hers.
Their mouths met gently at first. Lips closed but pressed firmly against one another. The kiss was chaste and sweet. But Emma found herself wanting, no, needing more. So she opened her mouth and touched her tongue to his lips that immediately opened for her. She explored his mouth, tasting the beer and pizza that lingered there. Hook cocked his head to the side so that Emma could get easier access. The kiss lasted an eternity and the only reason that it ended was that so they could both breathe.
Hook kept his forehead leaning against Emma's. "That was…" He whispered, not wanting to wake Henry.
"Pretty damn amazing." Emma breathed out gently, eyes still closed. She wanted to luxuriate in the feeling a little longer. Before she could open her eyes, she felt his mouth meet hers again, this time he was taking control.
Hook took the chance that maybe he could kiss Emma this time and he found no resistance. Gods, she tasted amazing and he couldn't get enough. Too soon once more, they broke apart and both inhaled deeply. "I'm glad you are here to share in this with us." His Savior said softly.
"Words can not express what it means to me that Henry and you want me here Emma." And with that uttered confession, the pair kissed again. Unknowing that a set of eyes watched them from the couch, a large grin splitting his face in half.